16 Things To Know About Harmful Effects Of Caffeine

Coffee and energy drinks fans will probably “shoot” us for this post, but we really needed to write something about harmful effects of caffeine upon our health.

There’s no person in this world who doesn’t like to start the day with a fresh hot cup of coffee. It is kind of ritual that everybody does and it is considered as ‘me time’ early in the morning.

However, drinking that pleasurable drink, or any other containing caffeine, can potentially cause negative side effects to our health.

There are always pros and cons to consider.

16 Harmful Effects Of Caffeine

Here you can find many study conclusions which elaborate that caffeine could be potentially dangerous to your health if consumed in amounts larger than allowed.

So lets start.

1.Caffeine Consumption May Raise Blood Pressure

This refers especially to those who already suffer from hypertension, and those who don’t normally consume caffeine on regular basis.

To prove this, to people with hypertension were given 250 mg of caffeine (about 2 coffees), and the data revealed that their blood pressure was elevated for about 2-3 hours after the caffeine consummation.(1)

Also, there is another study from Mayo Clinic about negative side effects of caffeine, and they found similar results from a 160 mg dose.

All participants experienced a significant rise in blood pressure, and it was the most obvious in those who didn’t normally consume caffeine at all.

2. More Than 4 Cups Of Coffee Are Linked To Early Death

In this study, a positive association between coffee consumption and all-cause mortality was observed in men and women younger than 55 years.

On the basis of these findings, it seems appropriate to suggest that younger people avoid heavy coffee consumption (i.e, averaging >4 cups per day).

The 12-year study in more than 1,200 patients found that heavy coffee drinkers had a four-fold increased risk while moderate drinkers tripled their risk.

4.Caffeine Linked To Gout Attacks

According to WebMD, caffeinated beverages increase their risk for a gout flare-up.

Preliminary research suggests that having an extra jolt or two of caffeine, may trigger a gout attack in people with the painful and often disabling arthritic condition.

5.Breast Tissue Cysts In Women

One study showed that “Women who consumed 31–250 mg of caffeine/day had a 1.5-fold increase in the odds of developing fibrocystic breast disease, and women who drank over 500 mg/day had a 2.3-fold increase in the odds of developing cysts.

Caffeine irritates the bladder and can make incontinence worse. As coffee has the biggest effect, you better stop drinking it, or switch to decaffeinated one.

Fizzy drinks, tea, green tea, energy drinks and hot chocolate also contain caffeine, so cut down on these too and replace them with water and herbal or fruit teas instead.

8.Caffeine Can Cause Indigestion

People who consume caffeinated beverages often report an upset stomach or indigestion. This mainly occurs when the beverages are consumed on an empty stomach.

If you can’t quit taking them despite harmful effects of caffeine, at least have breakfast first.

9.Caffeine Can Cause Headaches

While occasional doses of caffeine can relieve headache symptoms, the overuse of caffeine can cause headaches and lead to migraines.

Yes, it does have such effect among some people.

10.Caffeine Could Reduce Fertility In Women

Unfortunately,caffeine reduces muscle activity in the fallopian tubes that carry eggs from the ovaries to the womb, according to recent animal studies.

The finding may explain why drinking caffeinated drinks can reduce a woman’s chance of becoming pregnant.

Therefore, if you plan pregnancy, it would be good to reconsider the idea of drinking caffeine.

11.Caffeine May Not Be Healthy For People With Type 2 Diabetes

Moderate consumption of both caffeinated and decaffeinated coffee may lower risk of type 2 diabetes in younger and middle-aged women, however, coffee constituents other than caffeine may affect the development of type 2 diabetes.

High coffee consumption has been associated with better glucose tolerance and a substantially lower risk of type 2 diabetes in diverse populations .

However, it remains unclear what coffee components may be responsible for the apparent beneficial effect of coffee on glucose metabolism.

However, its always better to be on the safe side and investigate further – whether caffeine is good for type 2 diabetics.

12.Caffeine Overdose

While caffeine overdose is pretty rare, it can lead to many adverse symptoms including death, especially in those with underlying medical conditions.

Going above 400 mg daily (the recommended dose for adults), can cause unpleasant side effects such as: jitteriness, insomnia and even irritability.

That’s because caffeine can speed up the heart beat and disturb the body’s blood flow, which in extreme cases can become fatal.

Unfortunately, some people have a lower tolerance for caffeine than others.

Speaking of toxic levels – if 30 cups of coffee is consumed in a short period of time, the symptoms are a lot more serious.

Vomiting, abdominal pain, altered consciousness, and even seizures may occur, so don’t fool around with this.

Regarding energy drinks, they typically contain more caffeine than coffee, making them easier to get overdosed with.

A generously caffeinated energy drink might contain 300 mg of caffeine, so a person would need to quickly drink 10 of them to reach deadly blood levels of the stimulant.

These drinks also contain other stimulants like guarana, taurine, and L-carnitine, and it’s these combinations that researchers worry the most, especially when mixed energy beverages are mixed with alcohol.

13.Caffeine Allergies

Some people have over-sensitivity to caffeine, causing them allergic-like reactions such as hives and pain. Although it’s not a true allergy, many report negative symptoms after consuming even the smallest amounts.

The harmful effects of caffeine intake are also associated with worsen hot flashes and night sweats, but fewer problems with mood, memory, and concentration in menopausal women, according to findings of a cross-sectional survey

Therefore, limiting caffeine intake may be useful for those postmenopausal women who have bothersome hot flashes and night sweats.

15.Caffeine And Collagen

This effect is dose-dependent, but really heavy caffeine consumers should be aware of, because consuming caffeine can cause dehydration.

And when caffeine is taken in high doses, it can act like a diuretic, and urinating too often can lead to more dehydration and dry out the skin as well.

At least larger amounts of water should be consumed to avoid dehydration to happen.

16.Caffeine Could Lead To Greater Risk Of Bone Fractures

Caffeine intake has often been associated with an increased risk of osteoporotic fracture, and despite weak evidence, it is often suggested that women should limit their caffeine intake in order to minimize the risk.

Moderation above all.

If you can’t quit caffeinated beverages, at least include foods such as non-fat milk, almond milk, yogurt and almonds that are naturally high in calcium, and vegetables such as kale and broccoli.

Also, some foods and beverages, such as orange juice and cereal are enriched with calcium.

Make a good balance.

Conclusion

If you are experiencing any signs of the risks mentioned above, then, it’s time to start cutting back on caffeine. Slowly reduce your caffeine intake otherwise you may experience:

Headache

Sleepiness

Irritability

Lethargy

Constipation

Depression

Muscle Pain, Stiffness, Cramping

Lack of Concentration

Flu-like symptoms

Insomnia

Nausea and Vomiting

Anxiety

Brain Fog

Dizziness

Heart Rhythm Abnormalities

Caffeine withdrawal can be a very unpleasant experience.

The symptoms of withdrawal only last a few days to a week for light caffeine consumers, but it can last for 2 months or more, for those that had been consuming around 1000 mg or more daily.

However, even for the heaviest caffeine consumers the worst symptoms subside after about a week’s time.

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